I've been working in IT since 2001 and I'm now diving into security research. I'm looking for a way to let Windows Security Center know that I have antivirus protection, but here's the catch: I want this antivirus to do absolutely nothing at all. I intend to keep some 'infections' on my system just for white-hat intrusion testing, but I don't want to disable Windows Defender or any features of Windows Security Center. I also want to avoid using Group Policy or DISM to turn anything off. Does anyone know of a fake antivirus solution that would satisfy Windows Security Center or a super lightweight antivirus that reports it's operational while using no system resources?
3 Answers
You could consider using the exclusions that any antivirus offers. It might be a good workaround if you're looking to minimize resource use while still maintaining some semblance of antivirus functionality. Just make sure the antivirus you choose is indeed lightweight and can be configured to do almost nothing when it runs.
Honestly, there’s probably no legitimate way to do this. You'll have an easier time finding alternative methods. If you need to register as an 'antivirus' with Windows Security Center, it actually requires a cryptographic digital signature from Microsoft. It’s a bigger hassle than it’s worth.
I appreciate the clarification! There's a developer assisting me who didn't realize about the signature requirement, so your insight is really helpful. I’ll make sure to pass this info along. Thanks a lot!
I approved this post just for the entertainment factor. This is definitely going to stir up some interesting discussions!
If you enjoy drama, check out some of the wild responses I got on this topic over at other forums. It’s quite the rabbit hole!
I can definitely set exclusions as needed, but I really need an AV that won’t use any noticeable resources and won't perform any scans without my go-ahead. Do you have any specific lightweight AVs that fit this description?